A late double from Ian Henderson saw Rochdale come from a goal behind to secure a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road on Saturday.
The home side took the lead through Troy Brown shortly after the hour mark, but goals from Henderson, including a cheeky injury time chip over Robins ‘keeper Scott Brown, ensured three points for Dale, who moved joint top of the Sky Bet League Two table.
Manager Keith Hill named an unchanged eleven for the visit to Whaddon Road, and there was just one change to the matchday squad as Andrew Tutte appeared on the bench in place of Matty Done.
From a Dale perspective it was a relatively slow start to the match in comparison to recent week as Cheltenham Town worked in numbers to stifle Rochdale’s effective style of football which had been on show during the side’s last two outings.
While the Robins enjoyed plenty of the ball during the opening exchanges, they failed to test goalkeeper Josh Lillis as Dale’s resolute defence ensured clear cut opportunities were at a premium.
Rochdale grew into the game as the half progressed and they had their best chance of the match so far on 26 minutes during what was their best spell of the game.
Michael Rose, who two minutes before had rattled an effort narrowly over the bar, sent a fantastic ball across the face of goal, but despite Graham Cummins making the run into the six yard box, he was unable to get a touch as the ball spun away and out of play.
It was promising from a patient Dale and soon after, Joe Rafferty sent a menacing cross into the back post after a well worked move. Although Lund came sliding in at the back post, he couldn’t get the decisive touch to turn it into the net.
HT: CHELTENHAM TOWN 0-0 ROCHDALE
The weather deteriorated during the break, and the rain battered down at Whaddon road during the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
As seen in the first half, opportunities for either side were at premium but it was the home side who went onto opening the scoring shortly after the hour mark from a set piece.
The free kick was whipped into the area by Jamie Cureton, and despite Dale’s best efforts to clear the ball from inside a packed box, Troy Brown bundled home from close range.
GOAL: CHELTENHAM TOWN 1-0 Rochdale (Brown, 62 minutes)
Cheltenham took confidence from the goal and Rochdale were put under pressure for a short spell as the home side went in search of a second. Dale again defended resolutely to keep the rejuvenated Robins at bay.
Manager Keith Hill went on to make triple substitution on 69 minutes as Tutte, Bastien Hery and George Donnelly replaced Peter Vincenti, Jamie Allen and Cummins, respectively.
The changes added a new energy to Dale’s play, particularly in the final third, and Ian Henderson had a couple of opportunities before levelling the match.
On 72 minutes he got on the end of a Rafferty cross, but could only look on as the well directed header went inches past the upright.
A minute later he fired an effort narrowly over the bar from 18 yards.
On 76 minutes, ‘keeper Scott Brown was forced to tip away an on target a cross-come-shot from Donnelly, which was drilled across the face of goal.
And it was four minutes later that Henderson levelled the match. Donnelly sent a cross into the back post for the awaiting Henderson, who nodded the ball over the line from close range.
GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-1 ROCHDALE (Henderson, 80 minutes)
Cheltenham immediately went on the hunt to regain the lead and within 60 seconds of Henderson’s equaliser, Penn smashed a powerful effort over the bar. He should have done better in front of an open goal.
In the closing stages of the match Dale had opportunities to win the game, before Henderson netted his second of the afternoon in stoppage time to seal victory for Dale.
Most notably on the stroke of 90 minutes Rochdale broke on the counter attack, and after getting to the by-line, Hery sent a fizzing ball across the face of goal, but agonisingly an outstretched Henderson was unable to make a connection with it at the back post.
Dale were the ones who looked the most likely to net a winner and it came in the 92nd minute when a cool A late double from Ian Henderson saw Rochdale come from a goal behind at Whaddon Road on Saturday and move joint top of the Sky Bet League Two table with a 2-1 win.
The home side took the lead through Troy Brown shortly after the hour mark, but goals from Henderson, including a cheeky injury time chip over Robins ‘keeper Scott Brown, ensured three points for Dale, who recorded their sixth win in seven matches.
Manager Keith Hill named an unchanged eleven for the visit to Whaddon Road, and there was just one change to the matchday squad as Andrew Tutte appeared on the bench in place of Matty Done.
From a Dale perspective it was a relatively slow start to the match in comparison to recent week as Cheltenham Town worked in numbers to stifle Rochdale’s effective style of football which had been on show during the side’s last two outings.
While the Robins enjoyed plenty of the ball during the opening exchanges, they failed to test goalkeeper Josh Lillis as Dale’s resolute defence ensured clear cut opportunities were at a premium.
Rochdale grew into the game as the half progressed and they had their best chance of the match so far on 26 minutes during what was their best spell of the game.
Michael Rose, who two minutes before had rattled an effort narrowly over the bar, sent a fantastic ball across the face of goal, but despite Graham Cummins making the run into the six yard box, he was unable to get a touch as the ball spun away and out of play.
It was promising from a patient Dale and soon after, Joe Rafferty sent a menacing cross into the back post after a well worked move. Although Lund came sliding in at the back post, he couldn’t get the decisive touch to turn it into the net.
HT: CHELTENHAM TOWN 0-0 ROCHDALE
The weather deteriorated during the break, and the rain battered down at Whaddon road during the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
As seen in the first half, opportunities for either side were at premium but it was the home side who went onto opening the scoring shortly after the hour mark from a set piece.
The free kick was whipped into the area by Jamie Cureton, and despite Dale’s best efforts to clear the ball from inside a packed box, Troy Brown bundled home from close range.
GOAL: CHELTENHAM TOWN 1-0 Rochdale (Brown, 62 minutes)
Cheltenham took confidence from the goal and Rochdale were put under pressure for a short spell as the home side went in search of a second. Dale again defended resolutely to keep the rejuvenated Robins at bay.
Manager Keith Hill went on to make triple substitution on 69 minutes as Tutte, Bastien Hery and George Donnelly replaced Peter Vincenti, Jamie Allen and Cummins, respectively.
The changes added a new energy to Dale’s play, particularly in the final third, and Ian Henderson had a couple of opportunities before levelling the match.
On 72 minutes he got on the end of a Rafferty cross, but could only look on as the well directed header went inches past the upright.
A minute later he fired an effort narrowly over the bar from 18 yards.
On 76 minutes, ‘keeper Scott Brown was forced to tip away an on target a cross-come-shot from Donnelly, which was drilled across the face of goal.
And it was four minutes later that Henderson levelled the match. Donnelly sent a cross into the back post for the awaiting Henderson, who nodded the ball over the line from close range.
GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-1 ROCHDALE (Henderson, 80 minutes)
Cheltenham immediately went on the hunt to regain the lead and within 60 seconds of Henderson’s equaliser, Penn smashed a powerful effort over the bar. He should have done better in front of an open goal.
In the closing stages of the match Dale had opportunities to win the game, before Henderson netted his second of the afternoon in stoppage time to seal victory for Dale.
Most notably on the stroke of 90 minutes Rochdale broke on the counter attack, and after getting to the by-line, Hery sent a fizzing ball across the face of goal, but agonisingly an outstretched Henderson was unable to make a connection with it at the back post.
Dale were the ones who looked the most likely to net a winner and it came in the 92nd minute when a cool Henderson chipped the ball up over the top of Brown from eight yards.
GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-2 ROCHDALE (Henderson 90+2)
It finished Cheltenham Town 1, Rochdale 2.
Henderson chipped the ball up over the top of Brown from eight yards.
GOAL: Cheltenham Town 1-2 ROCHDALE (Henderson 90+2)
It finished Cheltenham Town 1, Rochdale 2.